Umerkot killings: Nationalist parties condemn tragic incident

HYDERABAD:

Sindhi nationalist party Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT) has condemned the killing of the two Hindu traders in Umerkot saying that such incidents aggravate the sense of insecurity among the minority communities.

QAT president Ayaz Latif Palijo attributed these incidents to a resurgence in the influence of feudal lords and tribal chiefs who patronise criminals. The two brothers, Heera Lal Malhi, 45, and Ashok Kumar Malhi, 32, were shot dead during an attempted robbery on Thursday night.

An FIR has been registered at the Umerkot police station on the complaint of their brother. The Pakistan Peoples Party - Shaheed Bhutto has also condemned the killings.

 The party’s provincial president, Ali Ahmed Palipoto, said that Hindus were being targeted under a conspiracy. A shutter down strike was observed in Umerkot for the second day on Saturday.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2014.